(ANS – Muhazi) – Nineteen students in the fifth class of the Gender Matters for Green TVET project – 17 young women and 2 young men – have successfully completed the six-month course and obtained their diplomas. In addition to providing knowledge on modern agriculture and animal husbandry, the students received various counselling sessions to help them overcome isolation, as many of them share similar problems. Ms Aurore Niyitanga, head of gender issues, said that students begin to receive support as soon as they join the programme. They are provided with seeds or livestock so that they can begin to learn while improving their living conditions. Adeline, one of the students and a mother of two, explained that in addition to learning modern agricultural and livestock practices, she received the capital necessary to start a small business to support her family. Mr Leonidas Nzaramyimana, head of the placement service for the Gender Matters for Green TVET project, said that at least three of the graduates have already found employment. The project is funded by Austria through Austrian Development Cooperation, in collaboration with the Jugend Eine Welt NGO, and implemented by the Salesian Planning and Development Office of the Africa Great Lakes Province (AGL).